Cahill reportedly considering $4m Melbourne City move

IN DEMAND: Australia's Tim Cahill celebrates after scoring a goal against Jordan in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in March.Rob Griffith

FOOTBALL: Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop has met with Tim Cahill’s management and spoken to the Socceroos striker, who is believed to be considering an A-League deal with Melbourne City that would make him the highest-paid footballer of any code in Australia.

The contract is reportedly worth up to $4 million a season, with a contribution required from the FFA’s marquee player fund.

Cahill is nearing the end of his contract with Chinese side Hangzhou Greentown and has reportedly rejected an extension.

If the $4 million figure is true, it will dwarf the remuneration of the leading players in the AFL, NRL and Australia’s Super Rugby sides, and underline the amazing growth of soccer since the A-League’s inception in 2005.

Only a handful of AFL players earn more than a million dollars a season, with the upper limit being about $1.5 million.

Daly Cherry-Evans earns about $1.3 million a season, making him the NRL’s highest-paid player.

Israel Folau is the highest-paid rugby player in Australia, reportedly pulling in almost $2 million a season in his deal with the Waratahs and the Wallabies.